hope for the future, joy for the moment

When it has seemed as though each step as of late has been painful (quite literally -- I broke my toe!), I'm thankful to proclaim that God has restored hope and excitement in my heart!

I have been struggling in so many ways over the last few months. Struggling to see where God is moving here and where He wants me, struggling in relationships, struggling in communication, and struggling for my own desires which were clearly not the Lord's.

Lounge chairs -- and you thought you knew hipster! 

Things have been stripped and distractions removed, which has allowed me to seek Him with undivided attention. When my future plans that I cling to are threatened, I start to question what God is doing. I thought I had the next two years of my life planned out thoroughly, and I don't. Life here is completely unpredictable, and I'm starting to see that God does have good in store even when it's not how I've envisioned life and ministry.

I'm here to say that I have no idea where He's going and how He's working. But I'm thankful to trust my future to the One who does know. I'm excited to learn more of what it means to trust Him in faith.

My kindergarden class -- love them!!

With Christmas around the corner, things are taking a break for a few weeks. I have finished my first term as a kindergarden teacher for five adorable children! Such a blessing to do something that I'm so passionate about in the land that I love. I am looking forward to make lefse and grut for all of my non-Norwegian friends and sing Christmas carols by candlelight. I'm humbled by the fact that I do need a break and grateful that God has provided me with a time to rest.

I will be meeting with a few women in the community of Masese within the next few weeks as we look forward to starting the Ambassador Institute class there in January. There has been talk of things drastically changing there in the next year, which has caused anxiety and panic in many of my friends as well as myself. However, we're moving forward, trusting that God knows what will happen and relying on the Holy Spirit to work even if our perfect little plans are disturbed.

My sweet, sweet friend

I know I am being rather vague, and I do apologize. There are things I wish I could say or ways I wish to express myself, but I would just ask you to pray.

• Pray that God would use this season to bring much needed rest, peace, joy, and hope for where He has me now and what He's doing in the future. 
• Pray that those of us within Masese would be attentive to where the Spirit is moving and how to bring Him honor and glory in our words and actions there.
• Pray that we would be a people of prayer. I recognize a tendency in myself to move ahead without seeking the Lord, and I want to be still before Him.
• However, pray that we would also act in faith where He has not given perfect clarity. We want to be patient and actively waiting on Him, but we also want the faith to move when He says go. 

Thank you so much to those of you who do pray. In this tough season of life and ministry here, I know that I have been covered in prayer, and it is felt and known. I'm so honored that you would choose to be a part of this ministry through prayer. I'm also thankful to be a part of a community here who truly struggles together. The family of faith that we have in Jinja is such a beautiful picture of the Church. It is much more beautiful to suffer through hardship with friends than enjoy a season of tranquility by yourself. 

For those of you who are also going through a difficult season, I encourage you to read Romans 8. All of it. I've been resting there lately. 

This view never gets old

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." -- Psalm 91:1-2

Praying that you would join me in whatever season you may be going through in resting in Him. My prayer has been not that I would cling to the cross, because I haven't felt as though I've had the strength. My prayer for myself as well as you who are struggling would be that Jesus would keep me there by His grace.